The Household Affordability Index increased in July according to the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) on Wednesday.
Image: Independent Newspapers
The Household Affordability Index increased in July according to the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) on Wednesday.
The PMBEJD Household Affordability Index food basket for July was at R5 530.52. “The average cost of the Household Food Basket increased by R28.11 month on month and the average cost of the Household Food Basket increased by R87.81 year on year.”
Mervyn Abrahams, Director of the PMBEJD said that foods in the basket that increased in price in July 2026 by 5% or more include: apples. “Foods in the basket which increased in price in July 2026 by 2% or more include: maize meal, cooking oil, salt, potatoes, frozen chicken portions, stock cubes, eggs, wors, beef tripe, tomatoes, butternut, cabbage, cremora, tinned pilchards, peanut butter, and polony.”
Abrahams added that foods in the basket that decreased in price in July 2026 by 5% or more include: carrots.
“Foods in the basket which decreased in price in July 2026 by 2% or more include: cake flour, samp, onions, soup, tea, beef liver, fish, spinach, green pepper, baked beans, bananas, oranges, and margarine.
Abrahams said that food baskets increased in price in: Joburg (R50.07), Cape Town (R69.26), Springbok (R164.70), and Mtubatuba (R129.49).
“Food baskets decreased in Durban (-R40.31), Pietermaritzburg (-R2.56), and Mthatha (-R74.15).”
Abrahams added that Statistics South Africa’s latest Consumer Price Index for June 2026 shows that headline inflation was 5.0%.
“CPI food & non-alcoholic beverages inflation was 0.4% month-on-month and 1.6% year-on-year. Stats SA’s Producer Price Index for May 2026 shows agriculture was -7.4%, of which products of crops and horticulture was -15.4%, and live animals and animal products was 3.2%. The June Producer Price Index is expected to be released on 30 July 2026.”
Abrahams said that in July 2026, the average monthly cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet was R980.66. “Over the past month, the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet increased by R3.14 (0.3%). Year-on-year, the average cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet increased by R23.26 (2.4%).”
Abrahams added that the Child Support Grant of R580 per month is 32% below the National Food Poverty Line of R855 per month (in May 2025 prices), and 41% below the average monthly cost to feed a child a basic nutritious diet (R980.66).
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